________ Franklin square/elmont _______
HERALD Sewanhaka spirit kicks off season
library showcases indigo artwork
Students plan futures at fair
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Vol. 27 No. 41
oCToBER 9 - 15, 2025
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Charity gala raises $17K to fight hunger pledged to match the final d o n a t i o n n u m b e r, w h i c h Emeagwali said were still being Giving Back to Community counted as of press time. Additional sponsors include Corp. will support feeding 200 families in Elmont and sur- Eugene Agbimson, Oduche rounding neighborhoods for Igboechi, Mary Eisenstein, Carl Ellis, Walic BeverThanksgiving and age Distributor over 3,000 citizens I n c. , l o c a t e d i n of Onitsha, NigeBrooklyn, and State ria, for the holidays of the Art Physical after raising over Therapy, which is $17,000 on Sept. 27 Emeagwali’s pracat the annual tice located in ValHearts in Action ley Stream. Gala at Leonard’s The charity honPalazzo in Great ored Joseph Neck. Ramire z, Nassau Over 100 guests County’s regional in attendance were representative at treated to dinner, the state’s execuwine, music, raftive chamber in fles, auctions, and Albany. New York speeches about the EmiliaN City Mayor Eric charity’s mission EmEagWali Adams, who was by several keynote Founder, not in attendance, speakers. Giving Back to sent a certificate of “It’s just a nice Community Corp. recognition of the day of memories,” charity and its volEmilian Emeagwali, founder of the charity, said. unteers, as did County Execu“It’s teaming up together in the tive Bruce Blakeman. In addition to the food distrispirit of unity and helping our butions, Emeagwali said the neighbors.” In addition to the funds charity plans to support 20 raised at the gala, one of the women in Nigeria with $200-300 charity’s longtime supporters to invest in their businesses. and donors, Jackie Grabin, Continued on page 11
By RENEE DeloRENZo
rdelorenzo@liherald.com
W
Renee DeLorenzo/Herald
eleanor Rizzuto, wearing a birthday sash, at her 104th birthday celebration at the plattdeutsche Home Society. as a World War ii nurse, she served at battlefields in north africa and italy.
‘Battlefield angel’ turns 104 at Plattdeutsche senior home By RENEE DeloRENZo rdelorenzo@liherald.com
Eleanor Rizzuto, a World War II veteran and the oldest resident at the Plattdeutsche Home Society in Franklin Square, celebrated her 104th birthday on Sept. 29, surrounded by fellow residents and staff, among others. Dozens of guests gathered in the basement dining hall at noon to honor Rizzuto, who has been a resident of the home for seven years, and topped off their lunch with a large vanilla birthday cake decorated with chocolate frosting The attendees included Angel Hinostroza,
a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2718; John Spavins, a life member of the 42nd Infantry Division Rainbow Association; and Rizzuto’s niece Jane Rizzuto. Rizzuto began preparing for a nursing career in 1939, at age 18, studying for three years at King’s County Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn. In 1942, she enlisted in the Army, and was deployed to serve as a bedside nurse at battle sites that same year. She served in North Africa and Italy during her deployment. “I always wanted to be a nurse, ever since I was a little girl,” Rizzuto said, recalling her Continued on page 7
e want our organization to be known to everybody. I feel like when we unite, we stand stronger.